Muslim schoolgirl loses Islamic dress case

The House of Lords backed a British school which excluded Shabina Begum for wearing a full Islamic dress at school, BBC reported.

Denbigh High School in Luton excluded Begum because she refused to give up wearing a Jilbab, or full-length Islamic gown.

Begum stopped going to school in 2002 and spent two years at home, before joining another school that allowed her to wear the gown.

The Court of Appeal earlier said that Denbigh High School unlawfully excluded Begum from school, and denied her the right to manifest her religion.

But the House of Lords overturned that ruling, saying that the school had "taken immense pains to devise a uniform policy which respected Muslim beliefs".

The judges also said that Begum chose a school which "went to unusual lengths to inform parents of its uniform policy."

They also ruled that the school didn’t interfere with Begum’s right to practice her religion as she had chosen a school that applies such a policy.

After the ruling, Begum said she would consult her lawyers about a potential appeal to the European Courts.

"Obviously I am saddened and disappointed about this, but I am quite glad it is all over and I can move on now.

"I had to make a stand about this. Many women will not speak up about what they actually want.

"I still don't see why I was told to go home from school when I was just practising my religion.

"I'm just a teenager - not many teenagers go out there and challenge the system."

She noted that the shalwar kameeze, which Denbigh High School allows Muslim students to wear, “did not satisfy Islamic clothing".

"I feel it is an obligation upon Muslim women to wear this [the jilbab], although there are many other opinions."

In March 2005, Denbigh High School said it had "lost on a technicality" when the Court of Appeal ruled that it failed to consider the Human Rights Act implications of its school uniform policy.

Lord Justice Brooke had called for more guidance for schools on complying with the Human Rights Act.

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